San Antonio Courts and Cases: Sabine Pilot Wrongful Termination Claim

Workers in San Antonio should know that Texas is an at-will employment state, which means that employers can fire employees at almost any point for any reason. Fortunately, there are federal, state, and local restrictions that protect workers from wrongful termination, which occurs when an employee loses his or her job after participating in a legally protected activity.

If you think your employer wrongfully terminated you, you need an attorney skilled in employment law. Before contacting a lawyer, read through “San Antonio Courts and Cases: Sabine Pilot Wrongful Termination Claim”to learn more about the next steps to take.

The Sabine Pilot doctrine set a precedent that, under San Antonio employment law, it is illegal to fire an employee for his or her refusal to perform a criminal activity. The doctrine comes from a 1985 Texas Supreme Court case. Because it is a state doctrine, it applies to workers in San Antonio. In this case, the employer, Sabine Pilot, directed the employee, Michael Hauck, to pump boat bilges into a waterway. Near the waterway, Hauck noticed a sign that declared pumping bilges in that area unlawful. After learning this information, Hauck refused to participate. As a result of his refusal, Sabine Pilot fired him.

The Sabine Pilot case set a precedent for the doctrine of the same name. For an employee’s termination to be illegal, the law has two conditions: the employer must have terminated the employee as a result of his or her refusal to do something criminal, and the duty the employee refused to carry out must be subject to criminal penalties.

The effects of termination can be felt for years. If you were wrongfully terminated, you need to speak to San Antonio employment lawyers. The experienced lawyers at Carabin Shaw are waiting to guide you through San Antonio courts and cases for your Sabine Pilot wrongful termination claim.

Specific federal, state, and local laws are put into place to protect workers from unjust firings. Disciplinary actions, including termination, that violate these laws are illegal. Some of these laws include:

• Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws: These laws make it illegal to discriminate against age, gender, race, sex, disability, and more, during any point of the hiring and employment process.
• Texas Whistleblower Act: State law that makes it illegal to retaliate against any employee who has blown the whistle on his or her employer.
• Other: Other laws protecting employees include legislation involving wages, safety, and retaliation.

Many laws work to protect employees in their workplace from multiple areas, including workplace safety to discrimination. If you believe you have faced discrimination or retaliation by your employer based on your participation in legally protected activities, then it’s time to speak to a lawyer. Finding the right attorney will make it easy for you to understand the legality of your situation, and know the appropriate steps to take.

Wrongful termination not only impacts your direct access to work and income, but it can cause mental stress as well. Also, retaliation may cause loss of past or future wages and mental stress. If you have experienced retaliation or wrongful termination, you may be able to sue for damages. The first step is contacting an experienced lawyer. Don’t let your current situation prevent you from earning what is rightfully yours.

If you believe filing a Sabine Pilot claim is the right next step, then you need to find the right lawyer. Start contacting San Antonio employment lawyers. It is beneficial to have a lawyer local to you so that they know the proper legislation and rulings that apply to your area. Luckily, it is easy to find a wrongful termination lawyer in San Antonio. The experienced lawyers at Carabin Shaw are more than willing to hear your case. Together, we can go through San Antonio courts and cases and file a Sabine Pilot wrongful termination claim.

Don’t hesitate—call today for a free consultation in San Antonio at 800-862-1260.